Jamal Lyles has made a successful transition from defensive end to tight end in a relatively short period of time.Gillian Van Stratt | MLive

EAST LANSING — Jamal Lyles is three-for-three in the catch department, which places Michigan State's newest tight end in elite territory when it comes to reliability in the receiver ranks.

Not bad for a redshirt freshman who only moved from defensive end to tight end less than a month ago.

"The conversation (to change positions) happened after the first game,'' said Lyles, a 6-foot-3, 245-pounder from Southfield who has three catches for 35 yards this season. "I came out the first day and caught passes, and it stuck ever since.''

With the glaring number of drops in the Spartans' receiving corps this season, it's no wonder the coaches jumped all over the opportunity to put a sure-handed player on the football field.

Lyles admits he has yet to master his new position as Michigan State's noon Saturday kickoff at Iowa (TV: ESPN2) approaches, but he knows enough to be dangerous.

"I'm just learning the whole offense .. been learning for a few weeks now,'' Lyles said. "I'm learning the checks, learning how to run better routes, learning to read routes before I line up. I haven't felt lost since the first couple days. All you've got to do is watch film, and the coaches are coaching me up.

"I've got the whole passing game down pat. I'm trying to get better in run blocking, and the schemes and the checks on the line.''

Lyles played quarterback and receiver in high school, and he was recruited as a linebacker and tight end coming out of Lathrup High School.

His receiving skills were on display in the 17-13 loss at Notre Dame on Sept. 21. He leaped high to make an acrobatic catch that spurred the offense.

"As soon as I heard the `Z-Fly' part, I knew I was getting the ball, so it was a rush,'' Lyles said. "They were lined up with the safety and linebacker inside, and I knew they would bite toward Michael Dennis and (Andrew) Gleichart, because we were running the ball effectively.

"The ball was a little high, but I made a good play and caught it. It felt real good to make that catch,'' he said. "I practice like that every day, working on my hands, practicing on the jugs (machine). I wasn't too surprised I caught it because I've been working real hard.''

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio has taken note, and he said the bye week would help Lyles get even more efficient at the position.

"I think that (bye week) gives Jamal a chance to settle in at tight end, he can still play defensive end,'' Dantonio said. "There's a huge learning curve, because he missed all of spring camp and all of fall at tight end. He's coming. He had a great catch on Saturday, and there's going to be more opportunities for him to become involved.''

Lyles said he can also make runs after the catch.

"I can make a couple of people miss, we're adding more routes in, so I should start having more yards after the catch later in the season,'' Lyles said. "It's a work in progress.''